Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday announced that the ministry will provide Film Promotion Fund to films selected as India’s official entry to Academy Awards .

The funding would be done for the movies selected under the Best Foreign Language Film category. Indian films representing the nation at Oscars will get Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.Financial aid will also be provided for movies which are selected in any competition section of an international film festival.

The announcement was made at the press conference for the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which is about to take place from November 20-28 in Goa.

Vetrimaaran’s Tamil docudrama crime-thriller film “Visaranai” will represent India in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Academy Awards.

Filmmakers representing their work at the Cannes Film Festival in the competition section will get Rs 20 lakh to promote their films, while in Uncertain Regard and Directors Fortnight, the promotion fund would be Rs 15 lakh each.

Indian films competing in various categories at Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival and International Film Festival of Rotterdam, among others, would also be provided promotional funds.

This initiative by the ministry will take care of expenses like engagement of a publicist, travel of director, producer and key talent to be present at the red carpet including press meets, accommodation, screenings, advertising, networking, technical material and creation and promotion of marketing material.

This step has been taken by the Union ministry of Information and Broadcasting to promote Indian cinema in the international arena and especially help independent filmmakers to promote their work.